Five-star running back visits UGA, plans Signing Day announcement

MIAMI – James Cook’s official visit to Georgia is in the books, but it’s not as though the trip held some massive revelation. It came and it went without much fanfare.

But, as it turns out, that may be net positive for the Bulldogs.

See, according to Cook familiarity is what has UGA running out in front of his recruitment. It’s why the lack of shock value may be a good thing. In Cook’s mind, surprises are overrated.

“I’ve been a lot, man, so I always know what to expect,” Cook said on Thursday. “I took my official there already. I’ve just been there a lot. They show me I’m family every time. I like being there. I want to be there.”

Cook has indeed visited Athens on multiple occasions. He’s gone as far as to name the Bulldogs as his leader in the past. So the narrative has simply become: “What’s the hold up?”

It’s a question to which Cook has an answer. He smiles as he delivers it.

“I’m waiting until Signing Day,” he said. “I’m waiting to make sure, you know? I’m just waiting.”

And so he’ll survey his options. Cook says he intends to take official visits to both Florida State and USC before Signing Day. At least those are the two he’s set in stone. According to him, Louisville, Alabama and Auburn are also in the running to secure visits.

“For FSU, [the official visit] it’s going to be the Louisville game, but I haven’t scheduled USC or anything else yet. I will,” Cook said.

Cook’s words on FSU, to which he was once committed, have been general and quasi-cryptic for some time. It’s difficult to tell if that’s by design. He stuck to that script once again on Friday when asked about his relationship with the Seminoles.

“They just tell me they want me,” Cook said. “They want me to come back. I’m going to check it out again on the visit, though. We’ll see.”

Cook concedes that USC is the dark horse when it comes to his recruitment. For now, the distance is an issue. As is his relative unfamiliarity with the program. A particularly great official visit could change all of that, however, as the five-star prospect intends to embark on the trip – whenever it takes place – with an open mind.

“At USC, they are saying I could be the feature back,” Cook said. “They have a shot, I guess. I mean, it’s LA. It’s LA and it’s a good place for me to get better.”

Cook attends Miami Central High School. His older brother Dalvin became a star at Florida State before being selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2017 NFL Draft.